Gluten Free Guide to Seattle

On December 2, 2018 By wherekatieisIn North America, Travel, Uncategorized, United States

After visiting Seattle recently, I absolutely fell in love with the scenery of the Pacific Northwest and all that there is to do, and even more importantly, eat in this city! And if you’re a gluten free foodie like I am, you will be in heaven with all of the amazing options for you in Seattle. Even if you don’t have a food allergy, the places I’ve listed below are amazing places to eat and most have many non-gluten free options too. Read on for all the best places to eat here, and make sure you check out my Seattle City Guide if you haven’t already, for all of my tips on where to stay and what to do while you’re here!

snapseed-79 — Enjoying foodie paradise at Pike Place Market.

Biscuit Bitch
- One of my favorite places to indulge for breakfast or brunch in Seattle is definitely Biscuit Bitch. There are a few different locations throughout the city, including one at Pike Place Market, with both regular and gluten free biscuits that are out of this world! Make sure you try the Hot Mess Bitch, a delicious combination of a biscuit topped with grits, gravy, scrambled eggs, cheese, and sausage, all of which can be made gluten free (!!!).
Cinnamon Works
- Another place I frequented more than once during my week in Seattle is Cinnamon Works, a bakery stand right in Pike Place Market. Get here bright and early, or about 8am, for their fresh-out-of-the-oven cinnamon rolls, which were by far the best gluten free ones I’d ever had. They also have plenty of other gluten free bakery options that are fantastic, including monster cookies bigger than your head. And whether you’re vegan or just want a regular, gluten-filled cookie or cinnamon roll, they’ve got you covered for those too.

The best gluten free cinnamon roll ever and an incredible view too!

Lowell’s
- A Seattle institution, Lowell’s is a casual restaurant with fresh seafood for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and plenty of gluten free options. For breakfast or brunch, try the smoked salmon egg scramble and for lunch or dinner, the grilled fish tacos on corn tortillas are a great choice.
Duke’s Seafood & Chowder
- With seven different Seattle locations, Duke’s Seafood & Chowder is another option for fantastic, fresh seafood. They have an entire gluten free menu with a huge range of options, including several different seafood chowders that are gluten free, something that is not easy to find.
Pike Place Chowder
- While there are only two chowders on the menu that are gluten free, I still wanted to try Pike Place Chowder as it is so well-known for its chowder. I tried both the Manhattan style clam chowder and the vegan lime and coconut chowder and can highly recommend them both, but would love to see even more gluten free options here in the future!
Razzi’s Pizzeria
- Switching gears here a bit, Razzi’s Pizzeria is definitely your best bet in Seattle for delicous gluten free pizza, pasta, calzones, and even fresh garlic bread or cheesy bread. This place is basically your gluten free heaven for all the delicious carbs you could ask for! And if you’re vegan or even vegan and gluten free, don’t you worry because they’ve got you covered with separate menus and an abundance of options for everyone.

snapseed-75 — Such great gluten free chicken pesto pizza from Razzi’s.

Capitol Cider
- I can’t possibly list gluten free Seattle options without including Capitol Cider, a 100% gluten free restaurant in Pioneer Square. Being able to order anything off the menu is such a treat for me, and I went all out with an order of fish and chips plus fried cheese curds, two things that I’d never had gluten free before (!!). I highly recommend checking out Capitol Cider for brunch or dinner, and be sure to make a reservation, especially on the weekends, as this place gets quite busy.
Sweetgrass Food Co.
- For a delicious, healthy option, check out Sweetgrass Food Co. for yummy grain bowls and salad bowls, with many gluten free options, plus smoothies and fresh juices as well.
I Love My GFF
- While I didn’t have a chance to check out this weekday lunch cart for myself, it has rave reviews for its organic quinoa bowls and gluten free cookies too. This is definitely on my list for places to check out on my next visit to Seattle!
Niche Gluten Free Bakery
- If you’re looking for a casual breakfast or lunch, Niche Bakery is a 100% gluten free bakery with plenty of great options for you. Everything from bagels, to waffles, to paninis are available and made fresh here.
Shug’s Soda Fountain
- Shug’s Soda Fountain was another favorite of mine in Seattle, with things like traditional ice cream sundaes and shakes, as well as boozy options like champagne floats and prosecco floats that are seriously amazing. Most of the ice cream flavors are gluten free too.

snapseed-65 — How cute is Shug’s soda fountain? I loved the prosecco floats here!

Elleno’s Greek Yogurt
- Last but certainly not least, Elleno’s Greek Yogurt is fresh yogurt made in small batches, with plenty of fruit and toppings to add to it. They have several locations throughout Seattle, including one at Pike Place Market.

As you can see, Seattle is an absolute paradise for delicious gluten free food options, with so many places to enjoy allergy-friendly eats, with everything from fresh seafood, clam chowders, fresh baked treats, and much more! Have you been to Seattle before, or are you planning on visiting? Make sure you check out my Seattle City Guide too, for many more tips on where to stay here, what to do, and much more.

xo,

Katie

Seattle City Guide

On November 23, 2018November 24, 2018 By wherekatieisIn North America, Uncategorized, United States

After recently spending a wonderful week in Seattle, I wanted to share with y’all a city guide complete with everything from where to stay, what to do, and what to eat here. Seattle is a lovely, fast-growing city in the Pacific Northwest that has everything from quirky neighborhoods to explore, to well-known sites like Pike Place Market and the Space Needle. While the city is certainly known for its rain, its beautiful scenery, close proximity to several national parks, and many things to do more than make up for that if you ask me. Read on for my guide to Seattle to help you plan your trip to this fantastic city, and make sure you check out my travel guides to Nashville and Asheville as well, if you haven’t already!

All the views from the top of the Space Needle.

Getting Here:

Seattle is home to Sea-Tac, a major international airport, so flying in here is a breeze, and options like Lyft or Uber can take you from the airport to wherever you’re staying. For a more budget option of getting to and from the airport, the Link light rail costs $3.25/person and takes about 40 minutes to go from Sea-Tac to the Westlake downtown station.
If you plan on visiting one of the nearby national parks like Mt. Rainier or Olympic National Park, renting a car at the airport make that convenient to do for a day trip. Just be aware of the time of year that you’re planning to visit, as some roads in the parks are closed during the winter months and Mt. Rainier even requires chains on your car tires if you enter the park during winter!

snapseed-69 — Sunset at Pike Place Market.

Where to Stay:

If you plan on doing a lot of sight-seeing in the city, I recommend staying right downtown as it is highly walkable to most places that you’ll want to go. I loved my stay at the Paramount Hotel (not sponsored, just really enjoyed it here!) and it’s location is absolute perfection. The Hyatt Place in downtown Seattle is another option that is typically a bit more affordable as well.
And if you’re a budget traveler looking for a hostel to stay in, The Green Tortoise comes highly-rated and is just steps away from Pike Place Market.

snapseed-70 — Taking in the views at Chihuly Garden and Glass.

What to Do:

There is honestly so much to do in Seattle that the hardest part is just prioritizing what to do on your visit here! I’m not usually one for city passes, but since I planned on visiting the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, the Museum of Pop Culture, plus maybe the Seattle Aquarium as well, it made sense to spring for the $89 Seattle City Pass, which can be used over a period of nine days.
Visiting the Space Needle is an absolute must, and with your City Pass ticket, you actually get two visits within 24 hours so that you can check out the incredible views during the daytime and again at night. We did our nighttime visit on our first day in Seattle after visiting Chihuly Garden and Glass, which absolutely blew me away with the amazing displays of Dale Chihuly’s blown glass sculptures. I can’t recommend either of these activities highly enough!
Pike Place Market is an iconic market formed in 1907, with everything from fresh fish, to produce, to crafts and fresh flowers, tons of restaurants, and bakeries. You can easily spend an afternoon just walking through the market and the different streets that make up Pike Place Market, and even after visiting day after day, I found new pockets and new shops to explore each time. You also can’t miss the famous Gum Wall while you’re exploring Pike Place!

Whether you think it’s awesome or disgusting, the Gum Wall is a must-see.

Pioneer Square is a fun neighborhood near downtown to explore that has everything from art galleries, great restaurants and coffee shops, including the Starbucks Reserve Roastery, a tasting room with food, drinks, and more, to the Smith Tower Observatory, which is another place to check out the beautiful Seattle skyline.
The neighborhood Fremont is an artsy area that’s also fun to explore, with cute shops and restaurants, a walking trail, a Sunday farmer’s market, and the famous Fremont troll under the bridge.
I can’t leave out some of the incredible and unique architecture in this city, like the Seattle Public Library, located downtown, and The Spheres, an innovative space built by Amazon that are home to over 40,000 plants, with the ground floor open to the public and the upper levels by appointment only.

How pretty is the Seattle Public Library? I’m obsessed!

Where to Eat:

There is so much great food in Seattle that I hardly know where to start! There are some incredible dining options at Pike Place Market, with everything from casual food stands to sit-down restaurants. You can’t miss the bakery stand Cinnamon Works that has the best gluten free cinnamon rolls and monster cookies I’ve ever tasted, and of course has delicious regular options and even vegan options as well.

The best cinnamon roll from Cinnamon Works with a great morning view.

Eating at Pike Place Chowder is a must while in Seattle, and they’ve honestly won too many awards for their chowder to count. I love that they only serve sustainable seafood as well. Be prepared for a line, especially on the weekends, but know that it’s worth the wait.
Lowell’s is another Seattle institution with amazing fresh seafood and nice views of the waterfront. I highly recommend stopping in for brunch and getting the Dungeness Crab omelet, something they’re well-known for, or the smoked salmon scramble with cream cream and capers. So good!
Shug’s soda fountain was one of my favorite places that we just stumbled upon on our visit, also located at Pike Place Market. It’s an old-fashioned style soda fountain with everything from traditional ice cream shakes and malts, to fun alcoholic versions like prosecco floats. This is definitely worth checking out for a sweet treat!

A yummy prosecco float from Shug’s soda fountain.

I think my absolute favorite place that I ate in Seattle is Biscuit Bitch, with several locations throughout the city, including one near Pike Place Market. Their biscuits are out of this world, including their gluten free ones (!!), and the Hot Mess Bitch, a combo of biscuits, gravy, grits, eggs, cheese, and sausage is something you just have to try.
If you’re looking for a healthier option after all of this indulging, Sweetgrass Food Co. is just the place for you. Their grain bowls and salad bowls manage to be incredible tasting while also being good for you and made from local, sustainable foods.

A great sunset on my last night in Seattle.

Well there you have it, my best tips and suggestions to help you plan a fantastic trip to Seattle! Have you been to this city before, or if you haven’t, is it somewhere you’d like to visit? I definitely recommend adding it to your travel bucket list, if it’s not there already! Make sure you let me know in the comments what you think of this post and if there’s anything you’d add!

xo,
Katie

My Bucket List

On September 29, 2018 By wherekatieisIn Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Travel2 Comments

I’ve been thinking about doing a post on my ultimate bucket list for some time, and there’s no time like the present to do so! I’ve kept a travel-related bucket list for years now, and while I’ve certainly checked a few items off of it already, I still have many to go. I’ll be periodically updating this post to reflect anything I do check off, and anything I want to add to it. I hope this helps inspire your own travel bucket list or gives you more ideas for yours, if you already have one!

snapseed-60 — Exploring Santorini was a huge check off of my bucket list!

My Bucket List:

In North America
- Visit New York City at Christmas time
- Visit San Francisco
- Go wine tasting in Napa Valley ✔️
- Take a road trip along the California coast
- Visit Seattle
- Visit Bend, Oregon
- Visit Denver
- Visit Maui, Hawaii
- Do an Alaskan cruise
- Visit Banff, Canada to see the glacial lakes ✔️ (Done in July 2018 and it was magical! We already want to go back.)
- Visit Costa Rica

In Europe:
- Visit the Greek Isles ✔️ (Visited Santorini, Mykonos, Hydra, Paros, and Aegina in May 2017!)
- Visit Lake Bled, Slovenia
- Visit Croatia, including the Plitvice Lakes waterfalls
- Visit Budapest and Prague ✔️ (Done in April-May 2018!)
- Visit Amsterdam during the Tulip Festival (My husband is dying to visit Amsterdam, and I’ve been once before, but not during tulip season, so I’m happy to go back!)
- Visit Salzburg, Austria and live out my South of Music dreams ✔️ (Done in May 2018 and it was fantastic!)
- Travel around Scandinavia, including Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, and Helsinki
  - Take the ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn, Estonia
  - Visit St. Petersburg, Russia via ferry
- Go back to Ireland and visit the Cliffs of Moher this time (I visited Dublin and some surrounding countryside areas about 8 years ago, while living in London, but didn’t have time to make it to the Cliffs of Moher!)
- Go back to Italy and visit the Amalfi Coast
- Visit the Christmas markets somewhere in Europe, maybe in Germany
- Visit Turkey
  - Visit Istanbul
  - Visit Cappadocia and do a hot air balloon ride here!
- Visit Iceland and drive the Ring Road

In Africa:
- Visit Morocco and do an overnight camping trek in the Sahara (currently planning this for December 2018!)
  - Visit Chefchaouen, also called the ‘Blue City of Morocco’
  - Visit Fes and explore the famous medina
- Visit Cape Town, South Africa
  - Do wine tasting day trip
  - Hike Table Mountain
- Stay at the Giraffe Manor in Nairobi (Check this out if it’s not on your radar yet– looks so incredible!)
- Go on safari in Kruger National Park
- Visit Egypt and see the Ancient Pyramids

In Asia:
- Visit Thailand (tentatively planning this for March 2019!)
  - Go to Chiang Mai and visit the Elephant Sanctuary
  - Go to Phuket and explore the temples here
  - Explore some of the Phi Phi islands
- Visit China
  - Hike the Great Wall of China
  - Explore Shanghai
- Visit Japan
  - Go to Tokyo during cherry blossom season
  - Explore Kyoto
- Visit Cambodia
  - Explore Angkor Wat
- Visit India and see the Taj Mahal
- Visit the Philippines and learn how to surf with Elaine Abonal!
- Visit Bali
- Stay in an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora

In Oceania:
- Visit Australia
  - Visit my friend Jayne in Melbourne!
  - Visit the Great Barrier Reef
  - Take a helicopter ride over the 12 Apostles
  - Visit Sydney and climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge
- Visit New Zealand
  - Do the Heli-Hike at the Franz Josef Glacier
  - Visit Wellington
  - See Hobbitton, where The Hobbit movie was filmed
- Visit Fiji

In South America:
- Visit Peru
  - Hike Machu Picchu
  - Visit and hike Rainbow Mountain from Cusco
- Visit Bolivia
  - Explore the Uyuni Salt Flats
- Visit Argentina
  - Visit Buenos Aires
  - Explore the Torres del Paine National Park
- Visit Chile
  - Go on a tour through Patagonia

In Antarctica:
- Go on a Girls Love Travel trip to Antarctica!

More General Travel Goals:

Visit all 50 US states
Visit all 7 continents
- More specifically, visit all continents except for Antarctica before we start a family
Visit all countries in Europe

Well, there you have it, my ever-growing, ever-changing goals and plans to travel the world! Some of my bucket list is very specific, even more so than I mentioned here, while some that I haven’t thought through in detail yet are still very general. Do you have a bucket list, and if not, do you plan to make one? If you’re inspired to make your own travel bucket list, make sure you comment on here with the link to your post so I can share it on my blog! As always, thanks for reading and stay tuned for more.

snapseed-59 — We fell in love with Budapest, a city that vastly exceed my high expectations.

A Weekend Guide to Nashville

On September 16, 2018 By wherekatieisIn North America, Travel, United States

Nashville, Tennessee, otherwise known as Music City. Whether it’s your first time here or you’ve been a few times before, there is so much to do in this fun city that there’s always something or somewhere new to explore! After visiting several times in the past couple of years, I have some favorite places to share with y’all, some of which that are more well-known, and some that are more off the beaten track. Hope you enjoy!

Going to a honky tonk bar is a must while in Nashville.

Getting here:

If you’re not within driving distance of Nashville or prefer to fly, the growing Nashville International Airport (BNA) makes traveling here easy. I do love that since we live in the Louisville, KY area now, Nashville is only a quick 2.5 hour drive!

The skyline from Pedestrian Bridge in downtown Nashville.

Where to stay:

Nashville has lots of different neighborhoods that are fun to explore, but especially if it’s your first time here, I recommend staying near Broadway or Music Row so that you can walk as many places as possible. Most recently, I stayed at this Airbnb that was very convenient for walking to The Gulch and to the cute Edgehill neighborhood. This one also looks to be a great location that’s even closer to Broadway!
If staying in a hotel is more your speed, the Omni Nashville Hotel has a great spa and rooftop pool, and the Kimpton Aerston Hotel is in an amazing location, right on Broadway. If you’re more of a budget traveler, either this or this hostel look like great options for you!
The cute Polaroid wall at the Airbnb I stayed in on Music Row.

What to do:

There is so much to do in Nashville that I hardly know where to start! In downtown Nashville, some must-visit sites are the Pedestrian Bridge for a fantastic view of the skyline, and just walking along Broadway itself to people-watch and stop in some honky tonk bars for the incredible live music.
My favorite park in Nashville is Centennial Park (not to be confused with the also-lovely Bicentennial Park!) that features a replica of the Parthenon and walking trails around a pond that are perfect for enjoying on a nice day.
Germantown is an adorable, walkable neighborhood that I love to explore, with lots of cute boutiques and restaurants, as well as the Nashville Farmer’s Market that is open year-round. The 12 South neighborhood is also not to be missed, with tons of great shopping and restaurants, and some great street art, like the famous ‘I Believe in Nashville’ sign and Reese Witherspoon’s Draper James store.
If you’re looking to experience a bit of history while in Nashville, taking a tour of the 19th century Belle Mead Plantation is the perfect way to do just that. They offer a variety of tours, including a fun segway tour!
At the adorable Draper James store in 12 South.

Where to eat:

Gosh, I could do a whole post on where to eat here alone (and I probably will, at some point!) but here are some highlights. For brunch, Edgehill Cafe is a bit more off-the-beaten track (meaning less waiting!) and has delicious omelets, waffles, and much more. They are also very allergy-friendly, which is perfect for me with my gluten allergy.
I also love The Flipside in 12 South, a retro-type diner that does a great weekend brunch which includes their full lunch and dinner menu too. I can personally vouch for how great the Pollo Ranchero and the Popeye is, but it’s hard to go wrong with anything here!
Five Daughter’s Bakery, with locations in 12 South and East Nashville, has out of this world donuts, including paleo donuts (that are gluten-free!) and vegan donuts too. Christie Cookie Co. also has incredible cookies to satisfy your sweet tooth, with a location in Germantown and one in 12 South.
I love sushi, and PM Nashville in the Belmont area does not disappoint, especially with their unique sushi burritos! Germantown Cafe (in, you guessed it, Germantown!) is also a great choice for lunch or dinner with classic southern fare that’s as well-priced as it is delicious.
It’s hard to resist these amazing donuts from Five Daughters Bakery

Have you been to Nashville before, or is it on your travel list? I hope this guide helps you have an amazing time while visiting Music City! Keep an eye out for more posts to come, with even more detailed guides to things like the bars and restaurants here in Nashville, as well as a post on all of the coolest street art in Nashville! And if you haven’t checked out my weekend getaway guide to Asheville, NC yet, find that here.

Some cool street art in 12 South, one of my favorite areas in Nashville.

Weekend Getaway: Asheville Edition

On August 29, 2018 By wherekatieisIn North America, Travel, United States3 Comments

I’ve been wanting to start a new series where I talk about different places that are great for short weekend getaways (or even longer if you have the time), and I can’t think of a better city to start with than Asheville! If you haven’t been to this charming, artsy city in the mountains of North Carolina yet, you definitely need to check it out. And even if you’ve been quite a few times like I have, there is always something new to explore or a new restaurant to try, because let’s be real, the amazing foodie scene is one of my favorite things about Asheville!

snapseed-38 — Just look how happy Asheville (and good friends) make me!